At what price does the Mustang start to make no sense?

[Q6543]

OP… the car is priced almost perfectly inline if you do the math.

Originally GT500s cost about $4200, the DOW was around 990.

carry it out to today… and it tracks to be 200K dollars.

you can’t use inflation calculators… they just show the difference in the quantity of money… you must use DOW or S&P to assign proper value of global growth over the time with that money.

this is why the “Big Mac index” is always priced near perfection as well..

if anything, cars have gotten less expensive for superior quality and technology innovation.

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[armyGT]

@armyGT ..... not so fast, brother. I got an amazing trade fro my 2024 GT on a 2026 GT and that dealer is known for a sharp pencil deal making wise and business wise. They gave me a great trade-in price because I have maintained my GT well and they know they can sell it soon after it hits the lot. There is always a solid market for Mustangs that weren't heavily modded or whipped to within a hair of their lives. If you maintain your Mustang well and don't flog the $hit out of it it will sell fast at a decent price. There is no bull$hit anymore - one plug-in of a reader and the entire vehicle's life is exposed. The salesman I first talked to about ordering my 2026 asked how I treated it. I said, don't waste our time with that question. Here is my VIN run it and go to OASIS then call me back. I knew he'd see my maintaince records (full synthetic changed earlier than FORD guidelines, engine air filters cahnged earlier than Ford specified and of course, the RPM etc. profiles of it. 30 minutes later he called back. He said, we are very interested. He came within $500 of what I thought would be the top end of a trade-in price. Treat it right and the Mustang will hold it's price with the best.

I hear you. There are still some things to consider. My car at $56.3K is now $61.5K. In two years, the cars have increased in price by $5-$6K. I hope they gave you nearly what the MSRP was on a trade. One man's great deal may not be an exceptional deal for another person.
It's all in comfort level. Sometimes people just try to trade with the same monthly payment but agree to extend the payment for a couple of additional years. If you got a great deal, then I may be wrong. In a month or so, I'll be looking at a trade. My car has 1600 miles on it, never in the rain, basically a show cruise car, no issues, we'll see!

 

[tastetickles]

Where was it imported from? We get the full fat Coyote in RHD.

No idea actually, I ran the vin all it says is made in the states but I’m assuming it’s from Australia.

 

[LouG]

No idea actually, I ran the vin all it says is made in the states but I’m assuming it’s from Australia.

I guess so, they do get the detuned version.
Still, what's 50hp between friends? Still a bloody good car.

 

[Ryunker]

In my eyes over $200,000

 

[Upacurb]

In the case of the Mustang 6G crew, they do have some good points. I owned a 2020 BULLITT. It had all the options but RECARO. It was around $53K. I now own a 2024 GT Premium. It was $56.3 K. Honestly, bang for buck, the BULLITT was a way better car and is still worth as much as my 2024. CARVANA says my car with 1600 miles is worth $43.6 K.
The S 650 used prices will drop like a rock. People know that when the warranty is up cost of repairs will be crazy. IMHO, with all the over the air updates, FORD will get the bright idea to charge you for updates just like the $750 for their NAV after a year. These are not cars that people will keep for 20 years. Look at the 2007 thru 2014 Shelby GT 500's. If a main computer module goes, Ford no longer makes them. Some can't be repaired. Good luck with body parts also. I enjoy my Mustang. Like many, it's an obsession with cars. The new Mustang is a lose, lose situation while you are getting a not so cheap thrill!!

the aftermarket always steps in….

I had a 67 GT500 for many years … sold it in 2020 … with a little work I could find parts …and you are talking about a 50+ year old extremely limited car …

same thing on the fox bodies …those are 35 years old now and you would be amazed at what you can find for them …

I think you’ll be able to find s650 parts 40 years from now too ….it won’t be as easy as going to your local Ford dealer but I don’t think it’s as doom and gloom as you make it out to be ….

ps a while back chip shortages we’re having an effect on availability of some replacement parts …

 

[ChitownStang]

We are seeing numerous variants of $100K++ (on the low end) of Mustang variants being pumped out…

Now I’m curious, at what price does the Mustang (for you) start to make no sense?

I love the Mustang, but seeing repeated $150K+ variants is just asinine IMO. For me, 100K would be the absolute upper limit for a Mustang, frankly 70K is pretty high for a Mustang! But what do you guys think?

Anything over $65k is my limit for a non-Shelby GT600
I got my premium Dark Horse for $63k new a year ago . I wouldn’t dream of paying over $70k for it like people are now.
Ford just hasn’t done enough to deserve that! Inflation my ass, make the quality better for that $!
Fyi
Paid $56k for my new pre-ordered premium Mach 1 in early 21
Paid $36k for new factory ordered 15gt premium back in 2015.

 

[Darkhorse SC]

We are seeing numerous variants of $100K++ (on the low end) of Mustang variants being pumped out…

Now I’m curious, at what price does the Mustang (for you) start to make no sense?

I love the Mustang, but seeing repeated $150K+ variants is just asinine IMO. For me, 100K would be the absolute upper limit for a Mustang, frankly 70K is pretty high for a Mustang! But what do you guys think?

Great question! Anything over $40k for a base GT with manual and I’m out. The last GT500 started (if I recall correctly) started in the $70’s…kinda reasonable. The upcoming DHSC starting in the low $100’s? Hmmm

 

[MachNroll]

Great question! Anything over $40k for a base GT with manual and I’m out. The last GT500 started (if I recall correctly) started in the $70’s…kinda reasonable. The upcoming DHSC starting in the low $100’s? Hmmm

Had I known back in 2020 that we would be where we are now with Mustang prices, I would have snagged a GT500 at the going rate of around $70k. But I went in a different direction at the time and now the GT500 window has closed. Funny, people have regrets all the time.... shoulda taken another job opportunity.... shoulda taken more vacations..... shoulda invested in blinker fluid industry stock.... yet here I am, shoulda bought a GT 500. Boo hoo, right???

 

[IceGamer]

OP… the car is priced almost perfectly inline if you do the math.

Originally GT500s cost about $4200, the DOW was around 990.

carry it out to today… and it tracks to be 200K dollars.

you can’t use inflation calculators… they just show the difference in the quantity of money… you must use DOW or S&P to assign proper value of global growth over the time with that money.

this is why the “Big Mac index” is always priced near perfection as well..

if anything, cars have gotten less expensive for superior quality and technology innovation.

Sry, but you are just absolutely wrong.

In 1965, the sticker price for a Shelby Mustang GT350 was approximately $4,547. Adjusted for inflation and using the latest Consumer Price Index for 2026, that amount is equivalent to approximately $47,000.

Using the DOW or S&P is just cherry picking and has nothing to do what people earn these days. CPI is focussed on the consumes and for good reasons considered the gold standard for measuring consumer purchase power. Using the DOW serves an entirely different purpose and is therefore not adequate.

 

[smurfslayer]

Sry, but you are just absolutely wrong.

In 1965, the sticker price for a Shelby Mustang GT350 was approximately $4,547. Adjusted for inflation and using the latest Consumer Price Index for 2026, that amount is equivalent to approximately $47,000.

Using the DOW or S&P is just cherry picking and has nothing to do what people earn these days. CPI is focussed on the consumes and for good reasons considered the gold standard for measuring consumer purchase power. Using the DOW serves an entirely different purpose and is therefore not adequate.

The thing about numbers is, if you torture them enough, they'll eventually say what you want to hear.

A few years ago, we were seeing the highest fuel prices ever recorded in the USA. And right on queue were the regime henchmen parroting:

<imagine this in the arch-typical whiny, nasal-y NY accent>
"but if yous adjust for inflation gas prices were higher in '73" ( or '78, or '83 )

 

[Q6543]

Correct, gas has been generationally cheap since 2008 peak/bust

I just appreciate the sound logic, money has value over time, and people always look past the X factor to bitch.

Point is mustangs are Fn cheap as they’ve ever been. Especially for what you get!

 

[REV745DH24]

We are seeing numerous variants of $100K++ (on the low end) of Mustang variants being pumped out…

Now I’m curious, at what price does the Mustang (for you) start to make no sense?

I love the Mustang, but seeing repeated $150K+ variants is just asinine IMO. For me, 100K would be the absolute upper limit for a Mustang, frankly 70K is pretty high for a Mustang! But what do you guys think?

I thanked God Almighty that I got the loaded Dark Horse and wouldn’t buy extreme cost of the Mustang cars nowadays! Bought mine in around the cost of the 70 grand in 2024! And now saving some cash for some mods that I would like to have done on my DH! This will probably be my last Ford car that I’ll have unless they bring the prices back down….but don’t think so! If I wanted another car it’ll be the kit Cobra car for sure! Lighter and faster without the top into my old age!

 

[MustangMitch69]

We are seeing numerous variants of $100K++ (on the low end) of Mustang variants being pumped out…

Now I’m curious, at what price does the Mustang (for you) start to make no sense?

I love the Mustang, but seeing repeated $150K+ variants is just asinine IMO. For me, 100K would be the absolute upper limit for a Mustang, frankly 70K is pretty high for a Mustang! But what do you guys think?

Anything priced above a GT or DH + a whipple makes no sense.

They are all marketed as track oriented, and there are MUCH better track oriented options out there in the $100K range than a front-engine, RWD, 4,000 lb car no matter how many parts from the bin are added.

 

[RDH43]

Sry, but you are just absolutely wrong.

In 1965, the sticker price for a Shelby Mustang GT350 was approximately $4,547. Adjusted for inflation and using the latest Consumer Price Index for 2026, that amount is equivalent to approximately $47,000.

Using the DOW or S&P is just cherry picking and has nothing to do what people earn these days. CPI is focussed on the consumes and for good reasons considered the gold standard for measuring consumer purchase power. Using the DOW serves an entirely different purpose and is therefore not adequate.

I agree with this 100%.... it was about 2000 bucks over a loaded up GT....So yea...those numbers show how far off the map cars have risen...Its crazy now. A 100k mustang is simply ludicrous lol...Unless Scarlett Johansson or equivalent comes with the car...There is no amount of whatabousism or spinning can change that...imo.

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